Lyr Req: The Organ-Grinder's Serenade

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Her Last Serenade
From: Mudlark
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 07:02 PM

Jim...thanx for corrected lyrics. Since my mother sang it to me in the early 40's she must have heard it from her mother...amazing just how old some of these chestnuts are.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ORGAN-GRINDER'S SERENADE (C K Harris)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Jun 03 - 01:22 PM

Mudlark, the words passed down to you orally (I assume) are amazingly close to the sheet music at the Levy site. There are only very minor differences.

THE ORGAN-GRINDER'S SERENADE
(Words and music by Chas. K. Harris. Arr. by Jos. Clauder. 1897)

Standing alone in the doorway, grinds the old hand organ man,
Turning that shiny old handle, playing the best that he can.
Not a soul stops or will listen. Quickly they all pass the door.
He heaves a sigh as they go by. They've heard those tunes before.
Yet close by the pavement stands a little miss.
"Here's a penny. Please sir, play me a tune for this."
Then the old man looks down at her: "Bless you, my sweet little maid.
If you will stay, don't run away, I'll play my serenade."

CHORUS: "After the ball is over," softly the organ did play.
"After the dancers leaving." "Please, mister, come every day!"
"Creep, baby, creep. Mamma will surely catch you.
Creep, baby, creep. Mamma is near to watch you."
"While the music is playing," was the next strain played.
Dear old sweet tunes that were heard morn and noon,
'Twas an old serenade.

Time passed, and still this wee maiden came to that spot every day.
Oh, how the old man's eyes glistened, and how that organ would play!
But one day he missed this angel. Poor man, his heart ached with pain.
"Why don't she come, my little one?" He waited, all in vain.
From a pretty cottage, just across the street,
There came forth a lady, face so sad and sweet.
"Baby is longing to see you. Come in, sir. Don't be afraid.
She's going to die. Please, sir, don't cry. Play her your serenade."

CHORUS: "After the ball is over," softly the organ did play.
"After the dancers leaving." "Please, mister, come every day!"
"Creep, baby, creep. Mamma will surely catch you.
Creep, baby, creep. Mamma is near to watch you."
"While the music is playing," was the next strain played.
Dear old sweet tunes softly played in that room.
'Twas her last serenade.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Her Last Serenade
From: masato sakurai
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 11:08 PM

Sheet music is at Levy:

Title: The Organ Grinder's Serenade.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: By Chas. K. Harris.
Publication: New York: Chas. K. Harris, 31 West Thirty-First Street, 1897.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: Standing alone in the doorway, grinds the old hand-organ man
First Line of Chorus: "After the ball is over," softly the organ did play
Performer: Sung with great success by Charles E. Witt
Advertisement: ads on inside front and on back covers for Chas. K. Harris stock
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: Fred'k Pollworth & Co., Music Typo's, Milwaukee
Subject: Portraits
Subject: Street musicians
Subject: Sick children
Subject: Dwellings
Subject: Deathbeds
Call No.: Box: 106 Item: 091

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Her Last Serenade
From: Mudlark
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 09:27 PM

Guest;guest...here it is as my mother sung it...and a right good tear jerker it is...

Standing alone in the doorway, grinds the old hand organ man
Turning a shiny old handle, playing the best that he can
Not a soul stops for to listen, quickly they all pass the door
He heaves a sigh, as they go on by...they've heard his tunes before

Close beside the pavement stands a ittle miss
"Here's a penny, please sir, play me a tune for this."
Then the old man looks down at her; "Bless you, my sweet little maid,
If you will stay, and not run away, I'll play you my serenade."

After the ball was over (softly the organ did play)
After the dancers were leaving ("Please mister, come every day!")
Creep, baby, creep, mother is here beside you,
Creep, baby, creep, mother will surely guide you...
While the organ's playing, 'twas the last strain heard
Dear old sweet tunes, played morning and noon
It was an old serenade.

Time passed and still the wee maiden, came to that spot every day
Oh, how the old man's eye slistened, and how the organ did play
One day he missed his bright angel; poor man, his heart ached with pain
"Why don't she come, my little one?" He waited, but all in vain.

From a cosy cottage, just across the street
Came forth a lady, face so and sweet
"Baby is longing to see you; please mister don't be afraid.
She's going to die...oh please sir, don't cry...
but play her your serenade.

After the ball was over (softly the organ did play)
After the dancers were leaving ("Please mister, come every day!")
Creep, baby, creep, mother is here beside you,
Creep, baby, creep, mother will surely guide you...
While the organ's playing, 'twas the last strain heard
Dear old sweet tunes, played morning and noon
It was her last serenade.

Subject: Lyr Req: Her Last Serenade
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 06 Jun 03 - 12:47 PM

When I was a kid, back in the thirties, my father used to sing us a song that I confuse with "After The Ball", or maybe it was a variation of that song. Here are some of the lyrics as I remember them. "After the ball is over, just at the break of day, after the dancers are leaving please mister come every day". And another few words, "sleep baby sleep, mama will surely watch you, creep baby creep, papa will surely catch you". And the last ones that I recall were "the same old sweet tunes that were played night and noon were her last serenade". If anyone can help me with this I would sure appreciate it.As I recall Dad sang it to the tune of "After The Ball".